Smoking bans and new taxes around the country

It's a New Year and smoking bans and cigarette tax increases are going into effect all over the country!

Illinois: Statewide ban goes into effect Jan. 1.

Colorado: Statewide ban extends to casinos Jan. 1.

Kansas: Kansas City suburbs' smoking bans go into effect Jan. 1 & 2, pressuring Kansas City itself.

Maryland: Baltimore smoking ban goes into effect. Jan. 1.

Texas: McKinney, Sugar Land and Fort Worth restaurant smoking bans go into effect Jan. 1.

California: Smoking ban in cars with kids goes into effect Jan. 1.

Wisconsin: $1/pack cigarette tax hike goes into effect. Jan. 1, raising tax to $1.77.

Maryland: $1/pack cigarette tax hike goes into effect. Jan. 1, raising tax to $2.

From Tobacco.org Updates, 1/2/2008